17/07/2023
CATFISH FARMING MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
CATFISH FARMING DISEASE CONTROL 2.
Parasitic diseases are caused by protozoa, helminthes and parasitic crustaceae.
Non-communicable diseases include nutritional fish diseases (e.g. goiter or hyperplasia of the thyroid gland), diseases associated with physical or physio-chemical abnormalities of water e.g. gas bubble disease which is due to super saturation of water with nitrogen or oxygen, low temperature disease and diseases caused by waterborne irritants e.g. cement, dust, silt, ammonia etc.
Disease of unknown aetiology include diseases for which the causative agents have not been identified e.g. proliferative kidney diseases and ulcerative dermal necrosis.
Treatment of fish is always a dangerous undertaking and every possible precaution must be taken to avoid disastrous results. Unlike the physician or veterinarian who treats patients on an individual basis under carefully controlled conditions and with accurate dosages, the farmer must treat his fishes en masse and trust the law of average will work in his favour.
Prevention rather than treatment should be the goal of every fish culturist. Most problems develop or become serious simply because of poor management or inattention on the part of the fish culturist. Some disease preventive measures include:
Use water that is free of wild fish e.g. spring or well water
Use good quality water without pollutants
If water is from streams or lakes, sand-gravel filters can be installed to prevent wild fish and most parasites
Avoid introduction of fish from other hatcheries, where this is impossible, obtain fish from hatchery without history of serious disease problems. Treatment against ectoparasites prior to stocking is advisable
